Spinning tool



Sept. 20, 1960 e. B. STILLWAGON, JR 2,953,047

SPINNING TOOL Filed Jan. 8, 1959 JIE 1 HIS TTOFNEYS United States Patent Ofi ice Patented Sept. 20, 1960 SPINNING TOOL George B. Stillwagon, In, Dayton, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Kenneth G. Fraser, Dayton, Ohio Filed Jan. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 785,583

'4 Claims. (Cl. 80-1) This invention relates to a spinning tool and more particularly to a tool adapted to swage an annular groove into a plane metallic surface, however, the invention is not necessarily so limited.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 581,523, now Patent No. 2,903,868, filed April 30, 1956 for a Universal Joint.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved tool for spinning an annular groove into a flat surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in combination with a spinning tool for spinning an annular groove, means for accurately locating the tool relative to the surface in which the annular groove is formed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tool for supporting a plurality of ball elements in an annular ring and for rotating the ball elements in contact with a planar surface to swage an annular groove in the surface.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture and the mode of. operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the spinning tool of this invention with portions broken away.

Figure 2 is an end elevationof the tool of Figure 1.

Figure 3' is a plan view'of a universal joint assembled with the aid of the spinning tool of this invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view, with portions broken away, illustrating the operation of the spinning tool of this invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the spinning tool, as best seen in Figure l, is assembled within a cylindrical body having a shank 14 projecting from one end thereof. The shank 14 enables attachment of the tool to a suitable chuck or the like so that the tool can be rotated about the geometric axis ofthe body 10.

Extending 'co'axially into the body 10 from the end opposite the shank 14 is a boring 16. This end of the body 10 also has a recess 30 formed therein which is substantially frustum shaped. This recess 30 is inwardly diverging, such that the wall 32 which surrounds the recess forms an acute angle with the base 33 of the recess.

A spindle 18 is journalled for rotation and for sliding axial movement in the boring 16. A coil spring 20 operating against a ball element 22 seated against the end of the boring 16 urges the spindle 18 outwardly. Outward movement of the spindle is limited by means of a set screw 24 threadedly engaging the body 10 and projecting into the boring 16. The spindle 18 is provided with an annular groove 26 which receives the inner end of the set screw 24. Outward movement of the spindle 18 is checked when the inner end of the set screw 24 engages the shoulder 27 which forms the inward margin for the groove 26.

As best seen in Figure 2 the outer end of the spindle 18 comprises an axially disposed wall portion from which project three equispaced radially extending lobes 28 which cooperate to equally space three ball elements 34 within the annular channel formed between the spindle 18 and the wall 32 which surrounds the recess 30. The ball elements 34 each have a diameter which exceeds the axial depth of the'recess 30 and is less than twice the axial depth of this recess. The dimensions of the recess 30, the spindle 18, and the ball elements 34 are such that after the ball elements have ben placed in the recess 30 and after the spindle 18 has been positioned in the boring 16 with the ball elements 34 situated between the lobes 28 of the spindle, the ball elements 34 are caged. That is, the ball elements are trapped between the axial wall portion of the spindle and the inwardly diverging wall 32 of the recess 30. The ball elements 34 can be removed only after the spindle 18 has been withdrawn.

In the outer end of the spindle 18 is a stepped cylindrical cavity 36 which, as will become more apparent hereinafter, is used to center the spinning tool with respect to the work piece into which the annular groove is to be formed. To this end the cavity 36 is concentric with the spindle 18.

Figure 3 illustrates a universal joint 50 which is formed with the aid of the spinning tool of Figures 1 and 2. The universal joint is formed of essentially cylindrical connecting members 52 and 54 coupled together by a coupling block 56. To effect the coupling, each of the connecting members is provided with a pair of jaws 58 spaced to receive the coupling block 56.

As best seen in Figure 4, each of the jaws 58 is provided with an initially flat surface 59 and an aperture therein which receives a bushing 60. The connecting members 52 and 54 are secured to the coupling block 56 by pintles 64 seated within the coupling block 56 and projecting normally from the faces of the coupling block 56 into the bushings 60 in the jaws 58. Needle bearings 62 are interposed in an annular ring between the bushings 60 and the pintles 64. The assembly including the bushings 60, the needle bearings 62, and the pintles 64 is retained within each of the jaws 58 by means of a cap 66 fitted within the jaw aperture which receives the assembly. Each of the caps 66 is provided with a cylindrical centering boss 68 projecting outwardly therefrom.

The particular universal joint illustrated is designed so that it may be lubricated by means of a lubricant introduced through one of the caps 66. To this end one of the caps is provided with a grease fitting 70 projecting outwardly from its centering boss 68. It is to accommodate this grease fitting that the cavity 36 in the spinning tool is stepped.

Each of the caps 66 is beveled at its outer margin, as shown at 67 in Figure 4. The caps are secured by the following means. With a cap 66 seated in an aperture in one of the jaws 58 against the bushing 60 therein, the spinning tool is lowered upon that jaw and centered with respect to the aperture therein by the centering boss 68 which projects into the cavity 36. The location of the spindle 18, as fixed by the set screw 24 cooperating with a spring 20, is such that the centering boss 68 moves into the cavity 36 before the ball elements 34 engage the surface 59 of the jaw 58.

The body 10 is rotated about its geometric axis with the ball elements 34 sandwiched between the base 33 of the recess 30 in the body 10 and the flat surface 59 of the jaw 58. Friction between the base 33 and the ball elements 34 causes the ball elements to roll in a circular path on the surface of the jaw 58 and with the application of pressure an annular groove 72 is formed in the initially flat surface 59 of the jaw 58. With formation of this groove, a lip 74 is rolled into intimate contact with the beveled portion 67 of the cap 66. It is this lip which retains the cap 66 in the jaw 58.

the annular groove is spun into the surface of the that of the jaws 58. The ball elements 34 must be similarly hardened. I

It will be observed that successful operation ofthe spinning tool requires that the spindle 18 project far enough out of the body that the centering bosses 68 on the caps 66 can seat within the cavity 36 in the spindle 18 before the ball elements 34 engage the surface of the jaws 58. Furthermore, theremust be enough axial movement associated with the centering boss 68 and the cavity 36 to enable the ball elements 34 to move into engagement with the surface 59 of the jaws 58 andto move into that surface the depth of the annular groove which is to be formed therein. a

In some applications, this axial movement might be provided for by having an elongated centering boss 68 and a correspondingly deep recess 36. However, as in the manufacture of modern universal joints, dimensional limitations frequently require that the centering boss be as small as possible. It is for this reason that'the spindle 18 is permitted limited axial movement within the body 10. It is to be understood, of course, that in dif-' ferent applications it may prove advantageous to place the centering boss on the spindle 18 and provide the work which is to receive the annular groove with a complementary centering cavity.

In the spinning tool disclosed, three ball elements are used to form the annular groove. The use of three ball elements is preferred for the reason that this provides a balanced three point contact with the surface which is to receive the groove. This'same balanced condition can be obtained with a larger number of ball elements, however, as the number of ball elements is increased the pressure with which each ball element engages the groove receiving surface decreases. Thus, while three is the preferred number of ball elements, spinning tools using fewer than three or more than three ball elements may be successfully employed without departing from the scope of this invention.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangementof parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consistiin adevice capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

- 1. A device for spinning an annular groove in a planar surface including a rotatable one piece body member having an elongate boring therein, one end of said body member having an inwardly diverging frustum shaped recess therein communicating with b fi g in coaxial 2,953,047 r n p relation thereto, a spindle journalled for rotation in the boring and having an end portion projecting into, the recess, and a plurality oflike ball elements disposed within the recess in surrounding relation to the end portion of the spindle, the diameter of the ball elements being greater than the axial'depth of the recess but less than twice the depth thereof, the end portion of the spindle cooperating with the inwardly diverging wall of the body member which surrounds the recess to cage the ball elements.

2. The device according to claim '1 wherein the end portion of the spindle has lobe portions which project radially outwardly between the-ball felements to. space the ball elements at equal intervals around the spindle.

3. A device for spinning an annular groove in a planar member having a centering boss thereon, said device including a rotatable one piece body member having an elongate boring therein, one end of said body member havinga shallow inwardly diverging frustum shaped recess therein communicating" with 'the boring in coaxial relation thereto, a spindle. journalled forrotation and sliding movement inthe boring and having an axially disposed end portion projecting intolthe, recess, a plurality of like ball elements disposed within the recess in surrounding relation to the end portion of the spindle, the diameter of the .ball elements being greater than the axial depth of the recess but less than twice the axial depth thereof, the axially disposed end portion of the spindle cooperating 'withthe inwardly diverging wall of the body member which surrounds the recess to cage the ball elements, the. end portion in the spindle having a centrally located cavity therein complementary to said centering boss, yielding means urging. the spindle outwardly of the boring in the direction of the recess, and means limiting the outward movement of the spindle, said last named means cooperating with saidfyielding means to locate the end portion of the spindle for en gagement with the cen tering boss.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the end portion of the spindle has lobe portions thereon which project radially outwardly between the ball elements to space the ballelements at equal intervals aroundthe spindle. I i a i References Cited in the file of this patent H UNITED STATES PATENTS i 392,847 Boschert Nov, 13, 118 88 1,517,079 Langton .,'Nov.- 25, 1924 1,656,324 Hamacheck 'Ian. 17, 1928 1,865,144 Sebell June 28,- 1932 2,604,258 Murnane July 22, 1952 2,833,183 Zierden May 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,721' Belgium May 31, 1950 

